49ers vs. Buccaneers Social Rewind

The defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers came into Tampa Bay to take on the Bucs in their final home stand of the season. The Bucs game also celebrate the Day of Giving and Faith & Football concert event. Fans rolling into the stadium saw the Day of Giving efforts early as Raymond James Stadium was full of battle flags at every seat.

Tampa Bay would have possession first on a drive that would stall early. The third down play did see a red flag on the field as the 49ers opted to challenge an incomplete pass. Pewter Report and former VP of Officiating Mike Pereira begin our commentary:

QB Colin Kaepernick made his presence felt on the first 49ers’ drive, converting the first first-down on a nine-yard scramble before evading tackles for another big first-down run of 17 yards. Buccaneers.com Senior Writer Scott Smith joins in the conversation:

Colin Kaepernick's mobility on third down is a problem the Buccaneers will have to solve today. It's the difference on this drive, obviously

The first San Francisco drive of the game would result in the first points as Kaepernick found WR Michael Crabtree on second down from the four-yard line for his first receiving TD of the season. WFLA News updates the first quarter stats:

San Francisco scores first, lead Buccaneers 7-0 with 7:05 to play in 1st quarter.

The Bucs took over at the 30-yard line. The drive would have one first down, but ultimately lead to a punt. As the first quarter wound to a close, the Bucs defense again held their ground against San Francisco with a big third-and-short tackle.

Gore stuffed on 3rd and 1. Great stand by #Bucs defense. #Niners punt. Bucs have it at their own 13

San Francisco started from their own 44 on the next possession. They would travel into the Bucs’ red zone and face third down. The defense again would stand with a huge play by Pro Bowl contender Gerald McCoy, forcing fourth down. Bucs Nation and Lakeland Ledger’s Rick Brown give the updates:

Gerald McCoy with the sack to stop the 49ers in the red zone! His eighth on the year!

On the first play out of the break, the 49ers would strike again. This time on a 52-yard bomb from Kaepernick to TE Vernon Davis. Users call the catch and a momentarily scary scene at the end of it all.

The second half would start with a head-scratching series of events. LB Lavonte David would make a big hit on the ball-catcher and pop the ball into the air, catch it, run, celebrate, run again, then eventually find his way into the end zone for an apparent score. The play was negated because of offsides. This is what it looked like:

Bucs LB Lavonte David has a wild bobbling INT (eventually returned for a TD), but it's coming back on an offsides penalty.

The Buccaneers would get the ball back via punt, before having to punt it back themselves. After a few plays with David still on the sidelines, Buccaneers fans collectively breathed a sigh of relief as the linebacker put his helmet one. Jenna Laine shares:

Down by two scores, the Bucs offense would again find success in the short passing game, cutting through the 49ers defense. The drive featured a 16-yard reception by Jackson. 7-yard by Wright, 6-yard by Underwood, 8-yard by Wright, 11-yard by Jackson. Scott Smith fills his audience in on the stats:

Mike Glennon is 7-for-8 for 65 yards on this critical drive. Ball at the Niners' 24 as the 4th quarter begins.

As he had previously in the game, Kaepernick led the 49ers offense making incredible plays with his legs. To begin the fourth quarter, Kaepernick sustained a long drive with multiple scrambles keeping his team on the field. Once rolling out and finding time before hitting Crabtree, and again with a 10-yard third-down run.

Kaepernick escapes a sack and runs for the first down. 49ers have it at the Bucs' 19.

On third-and-goal from the five, Kaepernick couldn’t find the magic again, hitting his tight end who was immediately tackled by LB Dekoda Watson. But the damage had been done. A field goal made it a two-score game and San Francisco had successfully complied a 17-play 10:27 drive.